A driving force control apparatus for controlling a driving force to be transmitted to a wheel includes a processor. The processor is configured to set, when the wheel is idled, a control amount of the driving force to be transmitted to the wheel based on a vehicle acceleration.

A method and a system for controlling a backlash of a powertrain included in a vehicle in connection with a gear shifting operation is presented. The method comprises: controlling, in connection with a first gear shifting operation, a clutch included in the powertrain to a slipping position, in which slipping position the clutch transfers a slipping torque that is less than a torque being transferred in a closed position for the clutch; analyzing a change of a rotational speed for an input shaft of a gearbox included in the powertrain; determining a position for the clutch, for which position the change of the rotational speed has a value corresponding to a backlash torque, the backlash torque having a predetermined value for eliminating the backlash; and utilizing the determined clutch position for controlling the clutch in connection with a second subsequent gear shifting operation.

A vehicle includes an engine, a rotating electric machine, a high-voltage power line, a high-voltage battery, an inverter, a capacitor, an electronic control unit, a low-voltage battery, an alternator, and a low-voltage power line. The capacitor is connected to the high-voltage power line. The electronic control unit is configured to control the engine such that the engine is operated and the alternator supplies electric power to the low-voltage power line in a case where the possibility of the occurrence of a collision of the vehicle is detected. The electronic control unit is configured to perform control such that the capacitor discharges a residual electric charge in a case where the possibility of the occurrence of the collision of the vehicle is detected or in a case where the occurrence of the collision of the vehicle is detected.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle that may be propelled via a primary axle and a secondary axle. In one example, a propulsion source of a secondary axle may be decoupled from at least one wheel via a dog clutch that includes teeth. The dog clutch may be disengaged in a way that reduces driveline noise and may reduce a possibility of driveline degradation.

A control apparatus of a power transmission system for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. When an input rotational speed of an input-side rotary member is lower than an output rotational speed of an output-side rotary member in a two-way clutch, and a shift request to form a shift stage in which the two-way clutch is switched to a lock mode is generated, the electronic control unit switches the two-way clutch to the lock mode, after the input rotational speed of the input-side rotary member is made substantially equal to the output rotational speed of the output-side rotary member.

A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which defines a first drive-force transmitting path provided with a first clutch and a two-way clutch and a second drive-force transmitting path provided with a continuously variable transmission and a second clutch. The two-way clutch transmits a drive force during a driving state of the vehicle, and cuts off transmission of the drive force during a driven state of the vehicle when the two-way clutch is in its one-way mode. The two-way clutch transmits the drive force during the driving state and during the driven state when the two-way clutch is in its lock mode. An engine torque is increased in a case in which a request for switching the two-way clutch to the one-way mode is made during the driven state in forward running of the vehicle with the two-way clutch being in the lock mode.

Techniques are disclosed for performing hybrid simulation operations with an autonomous vehicle. A method of testing autonomous vehicle operations includes receiving, by a computer, a pre-configured scenario that includes one or more simulation parameters and one or more initial condition parameters, sending, to the autonomous vehicle and based on the one or more initial condition parameters, control signals that instruct the autonomous vehicle to operate at an operative condition, and in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is operating at the operative condition, performing a simulation with the one or more simulated objects and the autonomous vehicle to test a response of the autonomous vehicle.

Hybrid vehicles and methods of operating the same are disclosed. Example methods may include providing a powertrain for the vehicle, which includes an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power to a rotatable input of a transmission by way of a starting device, and an electric motor-generator comprising a rotor configured to selectively provide rotational power to the rotatable input. The method may further include selectively disconnecting the engine from the rotatable input using a disconnect device separate from the starting device, thereby allowing the rotatable input of the transmission to be driven at a speed faster than an output speed of the engine.

A control device that includes an electronic control unit that is configured to perform lock-up engagement pressure control for acceleration upon acceleration of a vehicle where vehicle speed is increased by increasing a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, the lock-up engagement pressure control for acceleration controlling engagement pressure of the lock-up clutch, wherein in the lock-up engagement pressure control for acceleration, when an actual rotational speed of the input has reached greater than or equal to a reference rotational speed, the electronic control unit is configured to start engagement pressure increase control, the reference rotational speed being lower than a target rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, and the engagement pressure increase control increasing the engagement pressure of the lock-up clutch.

A wheel loader includes a forward clutch, an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and a controller configured to control hydraulic pressure of hydraulic oil supplied to the forward clutch. The controller performs clutch hydraulic pressure control for reducing the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil supplied to the forward clutch according to an operation amount of the brake pedal on condition that at least the brake pedal is operated while the accelerator pedal is being operated. The controller continues the clutch hydraulic pressure control even after the clutch shifts from a complete engagement state to a semi-engagement state by the clutch hydraulic pressure control.